Guide mechanism for oscillating continuous casting mold

ABSTRACT

A conventional continuous-casting mold oscillates vertically. Invention is an improved guide mechanism for maintaining the mold in alignment with parts beneath and holding the mold firmly as it oscillates. The frame which carries the mold has vertically extending guide rails of hollow V-shape in cross section on opposite sides. Rails are engaged by rollers, one of which is spring mounted. Hold-down rods for the oscillating mold frame extend lengthwise through the rails.

United States Patent Stull [451 May 16,1972

[54] GUIDE MECHANISM FOR OSCILLATING CONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD [72] Inventor: James T. Stull, Jackson Township, Butler County, Pa.

[73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation [22] Filed: Aug. 6, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 61,568

[52] U.S. Cl ......164/273, 164/83, 164/260 [5 l] Int. Cl ..B22d 11/00 [58] Field of Search ..l64/260, 261, 273 US, 83, 82,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,465,809 9/1969 Jensen et a]. ,.....l6 4/82 3,527,286 9/1970 Meitz ..l64/82X 3,528,487 9/1970 Wognum etal ..l64/83X Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant ExaminerV. K. Rising Attorney-Walter P. Wood [57] ABSTRACT A conventional continuous-casting mold oscillates vertically.

Invention is an improved guide mechanism for maintaining the mold in alignment with parts beneath and holding the mold firmly as it oscillates. The frame which carries the mold has vertically extending guide rails of hollow V-shape in cross section on opposite sides. Rails are engaged by rollers, one of which is spring mounted. Hold-down rods for the oscillating mold frame extend lengthwise through the rails.

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water-cooled metal sleeve. Liquid metal is poured continuously into the upper end of the mold, and a partially solidified casting emerges from the lower end. As the casting leaves the mold, it has a liquid core and a thin, easily ruptured skin surrounding the core. Conventional practice is to oscillate the mold rapidly in a vertical direction to prevent the skin from sticking to the mold. The mold itself is removably mounted in an inner frame which also oscillates. The inner frame is supported in a stationary outer frame. The two frames are equipped with a cam mechanism for oscillating the inner frame and mold, and with a guide mechanism for assuring that the mold remains accurately aligned with parts beneath. Reference can be made to Bode US. Pat. No. 3,381,743 for a showing of a continuous-casting mold and surrounding structure of a type used heretofore.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved guide mechanism for use in the foregoing environment, which mechanism enables the mold to be aligned precisely, firmly and easily with the parts beneath.

A more specific object is to provide an improved guide mechanism in which the inner frame carries vertically extending guide rails of V-shape in cross section and the outer carries banks of rollers engaging the rails and constraining movement of the inner frame and mold to a vertical path.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the inner and outer mold-supporting frames of a continuous-casting machine equipped with my improved guide mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on line II-II of FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section on a larger scale showing one guide rail and one bank of rollers in more detail.

FIG. I shows mold-supporting inner and outer frames and 12 of a continuous-casting machine. The outer frame is stationary and carries a cam shaft 13 suitably driven for oscillating the inner frame vertically. The inner frame carries a liquid-cooled mold 14 which can be of any standard or desired construction, but preferably has quick-disconnect connections 15 for admitting and discharging cooling water. The mold, cam mechanism and connections may be of a construction similar to that shown in the aforementioned Bode patent. Hence I have not shown these parts in detail.

In accordance with my invention, the inner frame 10 carries two guide rails 16 and 16a which are of hollow truncated V- shape in cross section and extend vertically along the outside of two of its opposite side faces. Hold-down rods 17 extend upwardly from the outer frame 12 lengthwise through rails 16 and 16a. Compression springs 18 encircle rods 17 above the rails and bear at their upper ends against collars 19 on the rods to hold the inner frame 10 in engagement with its oscillating mechanism. The rails have vertical bearing surfaces 21 which lie at right angles to each other and at 135 to the faces of the inner frame. The outer frame 12 carries upper and lower banks of rollers 22 which engage rail 16 near its upper and lower ends respectively, and upper and lower banks of rollers 22a, which similarly engage rail 16a.

FIG. 3 shows one of the banks 22 in detail; the other bank 22 is identical. Frame 12 has an inwardly extending bracket 23 which carries upstanding plates 24 and 25. The faces of the two plates lie parallel with the respective bearing surfaces 21 to the rail 16. Both rollers of the two banks of rail 16. I weld a facing plate 26 to the inner surface of plate 24. I attach the base of a bearing lug 27 to plates 24 and 26 with four bolts 28. I journal a roller 29 in bearing lug 27. The roller 29 engages one of the bearing surfaces 21 of rail 16. I insert shims 30 between the facing plate 26 and the base of the bearing lug 27 to position the roller 29 accurately with respect 22a are mounted identically to the mounting of the roller 29; hence I have not re eated the description.

late 25 has four threaded openings 31 into which I screw spacer sleeves 32. Each spacer sleeve has a hole into which I insert a respective bolt 33. The inner ends of these bolts are attached to a base of a bearing lug 34 in which I journal a roller 35. The latter roller engages the other bearing surface 21 of rail 16. Behind plate 25, the bolts 33 carry nuts 36, and lock nuts 37. Compression spring 38 encircle bolts 33 and bear at their ends against the base of the bearing lugs 34 and against sleeve 22. I adjust sleeves 32 hold roller 35 against rail 16 with the proper force. The springs 38 assure that the rails and rollers always remain in contact.

In operation, the cam shaft 13 rotates to produce vertical oscillation of the inner frame 10 and mold 14. The rollers of the four banks 22 and 22a engage the rails 16 and 16a to assure that the mold 14 remains in alignment with parts beneath. Thus the mold is positively held in the proper position.

I claim:

1. In a continuous-casting machine which includes a vertically movable inner frame, a stationary outer frame in which said inner frame is mounted, an open-ended water-cooled mold carried by said inner frame, and a cam mechanism carried by said frames for oscillating said inner frame, the combination therewith of an improved guide mechanism comprising a pair of rails which are of V-shape in cross section and extend vertically along opposite sides of said inner frame, said rails having bearing surfaces which lie at right angles to each other and at to the faces of the inner frame, and upper and lower banks of rollers carried by said outer frame and engaging said bearing surfaces near their upper and lower ends respectively.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the banks of rollers at one side of said outer frame include respective bearing lugs, rollers journaled in said bearing lugs, one of said bearing lugs being fixed with respect to said outer frame, and adjustable spring means urging said other bearing lug to a position in which the roller journaled therein contacts the rail.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said rails are hollow and including hold-down rods extending upwardly from said outer frame and lengthwise through said rails, and springs encircling said rods above said rails.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1 including inwardly extending brackets mounted on opposite sides of said outer frame, and pairs of upstanding plates carried by the respective brackets and having faces lying parallel with the bearing surfaces of said rails, and in which the banks of rollers at one side of said outer frame include respective bearing lugs fixed to the plates at that side and rollers journaled in said bearing lugs, and the banks of rollers at the other side of said outer frame include a bearing lug fixed to one plate at that side and a bearing lug movably mounted on the other plate at that side, rol lers journaled in said latter bearing lugs and adjustable spring means urging the last-named bearing lug to a position in which the roller journaled therein contacts the rail.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 including shims mounted between the fixed bearing lugs and their plates. 

1. In a continuous-casting machine which includes a vertically movable inner frame, a stationary outer frame in which said inner frame is mounted, an open-ended water-cooled mold carried by said inner frame, and a cam mechanism carried by said frames for oscillating said inner frame, the combination therewith of an improved guide mechanism comprising a pair of rails which are of V-shape in cross section and extend vertically along opposite sides of said inner frame, said rails having bearing surfaces which lie at right angles to each other and at 135* to the faces of the inner frame, and upper and lower banks of rollers carried by said outer frame and engaging said bearing surfaces near their upper and lower ends respectively.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the banks of rollers at one side of said outer frame include respective bearing lugs, rollers journaled in said bearing lugs, one of said bearing lugs being fixed with respect to said outer frame, and adjustable spring means urging said other bearing lug to a position in which the roller journaled therein contacts the rail.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said rails are hollow and including hold-down rods extending upwardly from said outer frame and lengthwise through said rails, and springs encircling said rods above said rails.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1 including inwardly extending brackets mounted on opposite sides of said outer frame, and pairs of upstanding plates carried by the respective brackets and having faces lying parallel with the bearing surfaces of said rails, and in which the banks of rollers at one side of said outer frame include respective bearing lugs fixed to the plates at that side and rollers journaled in said bearing lugs, and thE banks of rollers at the other side of said outer frame include a bearing lug fixed to one plate at that side and a bearing lug movably mounted on the other plate at that side, rollers journaled in said latter bearing lugs and adjustable spring means urging the last-named bearing lug to a position in which the roller journaled therein contacts the rail.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 4 including shims mounted between the fixed bearing lugs and their plates. 